AAG Kanter Makes Clear That Antitrust Law Is the People’s Law

Kanter Speaks at Open Markets’ "Breaking the News" conference. June 14, 2018.

WASHINGTON— Assistant Attorney General (AAG) for Antitrust, Jonathan Kanter, delivered his first major speech since taking office to the New York Bar Association.

AAG Kanter modeled the speech on a similar address in 1937 by law enforcer Robert Jackson during America’s last monopoly crisis and the New Deal.

In response, Barry Lynn, executive director of Open Markets Institute, released the following statement:

“For decades in America, the powerful few have made a mockery of antitrust law, which is the people’s law. Last night, Jonathan Kanter made clear that the people’s law is back in the people’s hands.

“Kanter’s speech is important in terms of goals — he made clear that the core purpose of law must always be the protection of ‘political and economic democracy.’ His speech is important in terms of means: He emphasized the need for clearer cases, stronger cases, and more cases. It is important in terms of willingness: to fight over and over again to shape the law to fit the needs of the 21st century. Finally, his speech is important in its resounding rejection of the broken ideology of Reagan-era ‘consumer welfare’ philosophy.

“AAG Kanter promised us that he will base enforcement on market realities, not economic theory that is detached from the facts at hand. His speech proves that he fully understands President Biden's demand that America's law enforcers move immediately to break all dangerous concentrations of power. We look forward to working with AAG Kanter as he transforms his words into action.”

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